Guide
Is Lock Picking Legal? Lock Pick Laws by Country (Europe & UK)
Short answer: in most of Europe, owning lock picks and using them on locks you own is legal. What the law punishes everywhere is burglary, and in some countries carrying tools in public with no legitimate reason. This page summarises the rule for each country we ship to, in plain language. It is written for hobbyists, it is not legal advice, and laws change — check the linked statute or a local locksport club before relying on it. We do not ship lock picks to countries where possession is prohibited.
The three questions every country answers differently
- Is it legal to own lock picks? Yes almost everywhere in Europe. The exception is Japan; a few US states presume intent.
- Is it legal to carry lock picks in public? This is where countries differ. The UK's "going equipped" offence is the strictest in Europe.
- Is it legal to pick a lock? Your own lock, or a practice lock: yes. Someone else's lock without permission: no, everywhere, whatever the tool.
Lock picking laws in Europe, country by country
| Country | Own picks | Carry in public | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Legal | Legal | Large locksport scene (SSDeV). Burglary with tools is aggravated (§ 244 StGB); tools themselves are unregulated. |
| Austria | Legal | Legal | Same logic as Germany: intent and the act are punished, not the tool. |
| Netherlands | Legal | Legal | Birthplace of TOOOL. Possession is not an offence; burglary is. |
| Belgium | Legal | Generally legal | Carrying with evident intent can be used as evidence. |
| France | Legal | Legal, intent matters | No law on lock picks as such; burglary with tools is aggravated theft. |
| Poland | Legal | Legal | The Penal Code punishes burglary (art. 279 KK); tools are not regulated. Growing locksport community. |
| Czechia | Legal | Legal | No specific regulation of picks (planžety); theft by breaking in is the offence. |
| Norway | Legal | Legal, intent matters | Frequently asked on Norwegian forums ("er dirk lovlig?"): yes, for hobby use on your own locks. |
| Sweden | Legal | Legal, intent matters | Active locksport clubs; dyrkar are sold openly. |
| Finland | Legal | Legal, intent matters | Tiirikat are legal to own; burglary preparation can be punished if intent is shown. |
| Denmark | Legal | Legal, intent matters | Dirke are legal; the police may question carrying without reason. |
| Switzerland | Legal | Legal | Unregulated for hobby use. |
| Italy | Legal | Restricted | Art. 707 of the Penal Code punishes unjustified possession of burglary tools for people with prior convictions; otherwise, keep picks at home with your practice locks. |
| Spain | Legal | Restricted | Carrying ganzúas in public without justification can be sanctioned under public-safety rules; owning them at home is fine. |
| Ireland | Legal | Restricted | Similar to the UK: possession of an article with intent to burgle is an offence. |
| United Kingdom | Legal | Restricted | Theft Act 1968 s.25 ("going equipped"): having an article for use in burglary or theft when not at your place of abode. Keep picks at home; carry only with a clear reason. |
| Hungary, Romania | Legal (to our knowledge) | Check locally | No specific pick regulation known; burglary is the offence. Verify before carrying. |
| Japan | Prohibited | Prohibited | The 2003 "Anti Lock Picking Law" bans possession of picks without a professional reason. We do not ship to Japan. |
| United States | Varies by state | Varies | Legal in most states; some (e.g. Nevada, Ohio, Virginia, Mississippi) treat possession as prima facie evidence of intent. Check your state. |
Is lock picking legal in the UK? "Going equipped" explained
Owning lock picks in the UK is legal, and locksport is an established hobby with a UK chapter of TOOOL. The relevant rule is section 25 of the Theft Act 1968: it is an offence to have with you, when not at your place of abode, any article for use in the course of a burglary or theft. The prosecution must prove intended use — but a set of picks in a jacket at night, next to a door you do not own, is exactly the kind of evidence the section was written for. The practical rule for UK pickers: picks live at home with your practice locks; take them to a club meeting or a friend's house in a case, in a bag, with your practice locks, and you have a clear legitimate reason.
Is lock picking legal in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria?
Yes, and these three countries have the oldest locksport scenes in Europe. Germany's SSDeV runs national championships; the Netherlands is where TOOOL (The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers) was founded. Picks are ordinary tools: you can own them, carry them and practise on your own locks. What is punished is breaking in — and using tools to do so makes it aggravated burglary. The hobby's own ethics (below) keep you far from that line.
Is lock picking legal in Poland, Czechia and the Nordic countries?
Yes. None of Poland, Czechia, Norway, Sweden, Finland or Denmark regulates lock picks as objects. Their penal codes punish burglary and, in some cases, preparation of burglary when intent is evident — which is why "carry" is marked "intent matters" in the table. Buying a beginner lock pick set with a transparent practice lock, keeping it at home and posting your opens online is what thousands of hobbyists in these countries do. Local forum threads asking "czy wytrychy są legalne?", "er dirk lovlig?", "är dyrkar lagliga?" all reach the same answer: yes, for hobby use on your own locks.
Where we ship — and where we do not
We ship lock picks and practice locks to the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We do not ship picks to Japan or to any jurisdiction where possession is prohibited. Practice locks alone (transparent padlocks, cutaway cylinders) are not restricted anywhere we know of.
The locksport code of ethics
Every club and community follows two rules, and they are what keep the hobby legal and welcome:
- Only pick locks that you own, or that you have explicit permission to pick.
- Never pick a lock that is in use — not your own front door, not a friend's padlock on their locker.
Practice locks exist so you never have to break either rule. Our practice locks range — transparent, cutaway, graded by belt — is built for exactly that.
Frequently asked questions about lock pick legality
Can I buy a lock pick set online legally?
In every country in the table marked "Legal" under "Own picks", yes. Customs do not restrict them within the EU.
Are lock pick guns and electric pick guns legal?
They follow the same rules as picks. Some countries look at them more suspiciously in public because they have no hobby use beyond speed; keep them at home.
Are transparent practice locks legal?
Yes, everywhere. They are training aids, not tools, and they are used in schools and locksmith courses.
Can a locksmith pick locks for a living?
Yes; in some countries (e.g. parts of Germany, Italy) professional locksmiths need a trade registration, which is separate from hobby picking.
What if I am stopped with picks on me?
Be honest and boring: you are a hobbyist, here are your practice locks, here is the club or the website. In countries with a "carry" restriction, do not carry them without a reason in the first place.
Last reviewed: September 2026. If you know of a change in your country's law, tell us and we will update this page.